Bystander Effect Paper

Words: 1011
Pages: 5

In this paper, the researcher will discuss The Bystander Effect. The Bystander Effect is when a dangerous real life scenario occurs with people, or bystanders, around to react but they do not (Psychology Today). “The category of bystander has been identified and approached on different levels: national, organizational, and individual” (Lucic, I., 2013). The individual bystander will be discussed. Psychologists conducted experiments to try to gain a better understanding of why this phenomenon occurs. This may seem outrageous that people would not help a fellow human in need, but unfortunately it does happen.
One of the most popular instances of this phenomenon is of a woman by the name of Catherine “Kitty” Genovese. This innocent woman was trying to get home late at night when she was attacked by a man and eventually stabbed to death. Approximately 37 people witnessed or heard the attack, but did not do anything about it (Gansberg, M. 1964). Nobody called the police until after she was dead. When the witnesses were asked why they did not do anything to help the woman they replied with poor answers that did not justify their inaction. This is not the only incident that witnesses of a horrible event do not offer aid.
According to Mr. Ray Williams, Psychology Today, there have been several instances when bystanders have just stood by.
“In a June
…show more content…
Within those five minutes, you see someone moaning in the ground in pain. Would you stop to help the person and be late? Darley’s study shows that most likely you would not stop to help. In his experiment conducted at Princeton University, he had students walk across the campus only to come in counter with a person who was moaning in pain. When the students risked being late, only ten percent stopped to help the hurt individual compared to about seventy percent who stopped when they had time (Keltner, D., & Marsh, J.,